Surrey Organists’ Association – Current and Future Events

Programme for 2012 :

President 2012: Camilla Allison BA (Hons), ARIAM 01483 481524  camilla.allison@btinternet.com

Please let Camilla know if you intend to come to an event and contact Camilla if you have any questions or need help in getting to the venue. Subject to any capacity restrictions non-members are welcome to attend on a one-off basis or as a ‘taster’ with a view to possibly joining the Association. Members of other Associations are similarly welcome to join us. Again, please contact Camilla in advance.

• Sat 14th Jan 3.00PM Recital at St Nicolas Church Guildford by Alice Salmon followed by A G M at 4.30 in St Nicolas's Church Hall which adjoins the church
• Sat 4th Feb Masterclass in Chapel at Cranleigh School from 11.0AM to 2.0PM by Phil Scriven (with thanks to the generous bequest by the late Alan Hunter)
• Sat 18th Feb trip to St Peter's Petersham (11.00AM) to see and play the highly acclaimed 2010 three manual organ by St Martin SA (Switzerland) and St Mary Magdalene Richmond (14.00) which has a fine 3 manual J W Walker organ. (This is a joint visit with our friends from East Surrey Organists' Association)
• 24th March There will be a morning visit to the Royal Memorial Chapel at the Royal Military Academy in Sandhurst.  Peter Beaven, the Chapel organist, has offered us a generous time slot in his busy schedule to ensure that this will be a ‘hands-on’ visit.  Due to strict security requirements members wishing to participate as a player or an observer must advise Camilla by 17th March their name and, if travelling by car, the vehicle registration number.  These details will be collated and forwarded to the Academy security.
• Thurs 19th April - trip to St Peter's, Notting Hill (1.0PM) which has an excellent J W Walker 3 manual organ built in 1905 and restored in 2009/10 by T. W. Fearn. At 3.0PM we move to Church of the Annunciation, Bryanston Street, Marble Arch, W1H 7AH to play the Rothwell 3 manual 32 stop organ, refurbished and expanded by Bishops in 1989. This organ has a 'wide tonal palette' and combined with excellent acoustics is effective for many styles of music. Additionally, the Church is of high architectural interest.
• Mon 21st to Fri 25th May - trip to Normandy to play Cavaille Coll organs in and around Rouen/Caen
• Mon 11th June - afternoon visit to St Stephen’s Rochester Row.   The recently installed organ was originally built in 1903 by J. J. Binns for St Thomas’s, Leith, Edinburgh, a church which has recently ceased to be used for worship.   Restored as recently as 1996, the organ retains most of its original features including attractive casework and is regarded as an historic instrument of the Romantic period of organ-building of outstanding quality.   Rosemary Field will demonstrate the organ and there will then be an opportunity for members to play it.
  Early Evening - We move on to Westminster Central Hall – subject to availability – to visit the Harrison & Harrison reconstruction of the original 1912 Hill & Son organ.   Gerard Brooks will demonstrate the organ and then give members an opportunity to play.   Full details of the specification - 4 manuals with 66 speaking stops can be viewed on http://www.harrison-organs.co.uk/westcentralspec.html.
• Sat 7th July 11.0AM - trip to The Royal Chapel Hampton Court with a demonstration by the distinguished organist Carl Jackson followed by a playing opportunity by members/guests on the Christopher Schrider organ

If you have any problem getting in touch with Camilla please contact the Secretary (details on Home page) or our immediate Past Presidents :

   James West - gojazzwest@yahoo.co.uk

   Ian Wickens - ianwickens@hotmail.co.uk

   Alan Winn - alan.winn@btinternet.com